Evening star. [volume], November 21, 1939, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Weather Forecast ~~.
Cloudy and continued cold with Inter- U/_at *An.u
mittent light rain or snow this after- J I OOOy S W0T NeWS TODAY
. noon and. tonight; lowest tonight about \ “
33 degrees. Temperatures today—High- U* , . <
est, 39. at 10:30 a m.; lowest, 36, at 7 a m. iNignttime On Europe S Battlefields
Prom the United 8tatee Weather Bureau report. I r, _.
_Fu“ detaiu oK page A-2, ^ Is Press Time on The Star
Closing New York Markets, Page 18. -___________
- --- W*) Msans Associated Prats.
' 87th YExiR. No. 34,902._WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1939 —THIRTY-EIGHT PAGES. *** THREE CENTS '
“ Britain To Seize Reich Exports
At Sea in Mine War Retaliation;
Japanese Liner Sunk Off Coast
Chamberlain Denounces
Nazi Methods as Illegal;
Two Trawlers Lost
Bj th* Associated Press.
LONDON, Nov. 21.—Great Britain has decided to seize
exports of German ownership or origin on the high seas,
Prime Minister Chamberlain announced todav. in retalia
tion for what he called “many violations of international law
and the ruthless brutality of German methods.”
As Mr. Chamberlain made this announcement in the House of
Commons, attributing to German mines the heavy merchant ship
losses off the British East Coast of the past few days, another ship,
the 11.930-ton Japanese liner Terukuni Maru, was sunk off the
East Coast.
The sinking Japanese liner, which could be seen from the
shore, carried a crew of 180 and 26 passengers, one of them British..
A lifeboat and other craft rushed to the rescue, and some
• survivors were brought to shore.
British reprisals against Germany, extending the blockade to
exports as well as imports, would mean concentration on neutral
shipping, since Germany herself has practically no ships at sea
now. The aim would be to halt completely all sea commerce with
Germany.
Mr. Chamberlain made his statement in reply to a question by
opposition Laborite Leader Clement Attlee on whether the govern
ment proposed to take any action as a result of the laying of mines
which sank the Netherlands passenger ship Simon Bolivar and
other vessels over the week end.
Today a British mine-sweeping trawler, the Mastiff, was added
*o the toll, becoming Britain’s sixth admitted naval loss of the war.
In reply to Maj. Attlee. Mr. Chamberlain explained that under
International law if unanchored mines are used they should be
tome harmless in one hour, at the most, after those who laid them
lost control over them. He said that none of these provisions had
been observed by Germany in laying the mines which Britain con
siders the cause of recent ship losses.
r\itci ictuuiiiuig me i woo ui
more than 10 ships, both British
and neutral, and many lives dur
ing the past six days, Mr. Cham
berlain said:
"I may remind the House that in ,
the last war, as a measure of justi- j
tied reprisals for submarine attacks
on merchant ships, the exports cf
German origin or ownership were
made subject to seizure on the
high seas.
“Many violations of international |
law and the ruthless brutality of
German methods have decided us to j
follow a similar course now, and an
order in council will shortly be
issued giving effect to this deci
sion."
Cheers greeted the statement.
German Plane Shot Down.
At about the same time that the
admiralty was announcing the loss
of the trawler Mastiff the air
ministry reported that an invading
German war plane had been shot
down in an engagement with Royal
Air Force planes over the east coast
today.
Invading warplanes, in another
flight such as carried one to the
very edge of London yesterday, flew
over Southeastern Kent to the chat
ter of machine-gun fire.
Later a German bomber—Nazi
markings were plainly visible—was
sighted flying northward over Suth
erland County, Northern Scotland.
Air raid warnings were sounded
In the Orkney Islands, off the north
ern tip of Scotland, and an all-clear
signal came after 40 minutes. The
Scapa Flow naval base is in the,
Orkneys. Three planes were report
ed over the islands, but no bombs
were dropped.
No air raid warnings were sound
ed in the populous Channel County
southeast of London, but street (
crowds in Kentish towns heard the j
rattle of machine guns and saw
Royal Air Force fighting planes ma
neuvering against their foe.
Second Trawler Sunk.
Another British trawler was re
ported sunk by a submarine off the
Irish coast today. It was not dis
closed whether this w^as a naval
vessel.
The Exchange Telegraph News
Agency reported that it was the
329-ton trawler Sea Sweeper which
was sunk and that her crew of 12
landed safely at a North Ireland
port.
A Lisbon dispatch reported the i
British liner Hilary had wirelessed ,
that two British freighters had been j
attacked yesterday by German war
ships off Cape Finisterre on the west
coast of Spain.
British officials said the Mastiff
sank after striking a German mine.
Trawlers of the Mastiff's class
normally carry crews of 30.
One of the Mastiff’s crew was
killed and five were missing, ac
cording to a preliminary casualty
'See LONDON, Page A-4.)
Bankers Delay Assessing
Food Stamp Charges
Bj the Associated Press.
ROCHESTER, N. Y., Nov. 21.—
Rochester bankers will defer their
proposed 1 per cent collection charge
for handling surplus food stamps
as the result of the Federal Gov
ernment's threat to withdraw the
plan introduced here last May, it
was announced today.
Roland B. Woodward, executive
vice president of the Chamber of
Commerce, said bankers agreed to
the delay after a conference with
food merchants in an effort to per
mit the latter “to perfect plans and
present them to the authorities in
Washington.”
Grocers and bankers arranged
conferences in an effort to solve the
controversy over the 1 per cent col
lection charge, which the bankers
proposed to impose December 1,
after the Surplus Commodities Corp.
threatened to withdraw' the plan of
distributing surplus foods to the
needy from the comer grocery
•tore.
» 4
Senator Glass Favors
Garner or Byrd for
1940 Campaign
Virginian Declines
To Discuss Views
On Third Term
By *he Associated Press.
Senator Carter Glass disclosed to
day that he has two choices for the
1940 Democratic presidential nomi
nation—Vice President Gamer and
Senator Byrd of Virginia.
“I know of no man better quali
fied for the presidency than John
Garner or Harry Byrd,” Senator
Glass told reporters.
The 81-year-old Virginian de
clined to discuss his views regard
ing a third term for President
Roosevelt. Although Senator Glass
generally has been understood to
oppose a third term, his friends re
ported that he did not wish to say
anything which might create party
friction.
It was said authoritatively, how
ever, that the Senator would wort
to have the Virginia delegation to
the Democratic convention instruct
ed for Senator Byrd, but that Sen
ator Glass would support Mr. Gar
ner if his Virginia colleague were
unable to obtain the presidential
nomination.
Garner’s Views Awaited.
Mr. Gamer's associates here pre
dicted today that the Vice Presi
dent would make a comprehensive
statement of his views on national
problems early next year. They
said he probably would emphasize
the desirability of ending Federal
deficits, but might uphold accom
plishments of the Roosevelt admin
istration in general terms.
Campaign managers for the Vice
President are planning to make an
aggressive drive for delegates in the
State primaries next Spring. Some
of them were said authoritatively to
have convinced Mr. Garner that he
should make known liis views before
the primaries in order that voters
might have a clear understanding of
his position
Spnntnr frlacc Hicpnccimr Flomn.
cratic prospects for 1940, said that if
the party is to win, the administra
tion "ought to stop spending more
fnoney than it collects."
Receiving reporters in his hotel
apartment, he asserted he would
make a battle for reduced Federal
spending at the next session if there
appeared to be any prospect of suc
cess.
"But I'm too old to devote a lot of
energy to a futile fight," he declared.
Farm and Pension Issues.
Meanwhile, Senators interested in
farm and pension programs con
tended that those issues would be
of major importance in fixing the
political drift for 1940.
Senator McNary of Oregon, the
Republican leader, told reporters the
Republican party could be successful
in the next election “if it demon
strates to the farm vote and to those
dependent on the farmers that the
party is interested, as formerly, in
their welfare."
Senator Downey, Democrat, of
California, who returned with Dr.
Francis E. Townsend, old-age pen
sion advocate, from a speaking tour
in Pennsylvania, said pension groups
would seek to write a favorable
plank into both Democratic and Re
publican platforms.
“The pension groups are much
opposed to the present Social Se
curity Act and would not support
any candidate who stood on the
present act,” Senator Downey said.
Brothers Beheaded as Spies
BERLIN, Nov. 21 OP).—Karl and
Bernhard Grzebelus of Silesia,
brothers, were decapitated today for
treason. They were convicted by
the People's Court of selling atate
secrets to Poland.
♦
British to Set Up
Pre-Shipment
Cargo Check
System Will Prevent
Searching of U. S.
Ships at Sea
Great Britain announced today a
system 'for pre-shipment investiga
tion of American exports which is
designed to expedite American trade
with European neutral countries. j
The announcement was made here
by the British Embassy, which said j
that initially the system ‘'will apply
to all shipments ,from the United
States to the following countries—
Belgium, Denmark, Estonia. Finland,
Iceland, Latvia, the Netherlands,
Norway and Sweden."
'The system will be further ex
tended as opportunity offers,” the
Embassy stated.
The investigation plan, according
to the Embassy, was first evolved in
the World War, when it was known
as the "Navicert system.” It will be
made effective again December 1.
Welles Sees No Objection.
At his press conference Acting
Secretary of State Sumner Welles;
said the United States Government \
has no objections at this time to
establishment of the new British
program.
For the benefit of exporters and
others who are not familiar with
the operation of the system,” j
the British Embassy announcement:
said, "the Navicert may be explained
as a form of commercial passport.
“Intending exporters desiring to
take advantage of the system may
apply to the nearest British Con
sulate on special forms obtainable
from any British Consulate in the
United States and. if the intended
consignment is regarded as unob
jectionable, they will be granted a
Navicert for it.
"A charge will be made for Navi
certs granted to cover the cost of
the necessary telegraphic inquiries.
Its exact amount will be announced
In a few days.”
The Navicert, the Embassy con
tinued. must be carried with the
ship and cargo it covers in order to
“Insure favorable treatment at the
hands of the British contraband
patrols.”
World War Use Cited.
In practice, a ship's captain having
such a document for his cargo would
present it to the master of any
British warship which challenged
him and he would be permitted to
proceed without delay.
The British government, the Em
bassy said, desires to reduce "to a
minimum the interference with
neutral trade inevitably occasioned"
by its exercise of "legitimate bel
ligerent rights” and for this pur
pose it found that the Navicert
(See”SHIPPING. Page A-4.1
More Snow Forecast;
Cold Snap to Continue
Light snow flurries sprinkling the
District yesterday for the first time
this season were expected to resume
their intermittent falling this aft
eroon, with no change in present
cloudy, cold weather anticipated be
fore tomorrow.
The mercury', in the high 30s con
tinuously for more than 36 hours,
is expected to remain at that point
throughout the day and tonight.
Yesterday's light snow and sleet,
which nipped blossoms on a few
cherry trees acting up out of sea
son in Potomac Park, melted as fast
as it fell.
By simple mathematics the
Weather Bureau ascertained that
had the flurry been given a cold,
earth-frozen reception, about one
quarter of an inch would have
blanketed the ground.
In the upper Virginia Shenandoah
Valley, the snow stuck for the sec
ond time this fall, although not in
such quantities as a few days ago
when trees were felled and traffic
was halted by a storm of mid-winter
proportions.
Two inches of snow remained on
lawns and in fields in the Win
chester section. A drizzling rain
later last night melted most of the
snow, however.
Summary of Today's Star
Page. Page.
Amusements, Obituary ...A-l#
B-18 Radio_A-16
Comics B-16-17 Sports --A-14-16
Editorials .. A-8 Society _B-3
Finance ...A-17 Woman’s Page,
Lost, Found, B-13 B-12
Foreign.
British trawler tenth victim of mine
warfare. / Page A-l
French renew heavy shelling of Lux
embourg area. Page A-3
Russian Baltic fleet holds large
scale maneuvers. Page A-5
Japan's South China drive checked,
Chinese claim. PageA-12
National
Recess appointees’ pay held affected
by controller’s ruling. Page A-l
U. S. presses demands Jap^n lift
trade restrictions. Page A-12
Washington and Vicinity.
Chest campaign 24.07 per cent short
of goal with day to go. Page A-l
European war increasing cost of
milk production. Page A-l
Motorist indicted by jury for man
slaughter . Page B-l
i
Editorial and Comment
This and That. Page A-8
Answers to Questions. Page A-8
Letters to The Star. Page A-8
David Lawrence. Page A-S
Alsop and Kintner. Page A-J
G. Gould Lincoln. Page A-9
Lemuel Parton. Page A-9
Jay Franklin. Page A-9
Sports.
Kimbrough, Kinnick, Boyd rated du<
all-America honors. Page A-14
Terps face Syracuse grid horde here
Thursday morning. Page A-14
Texas Aggies oust Tennessee as U. S
gridiron leader. Page A-14
Likely sellout for Lions’ game is
tribute to Redskins. Page A-1S
Cartrell, ill a month, ties all-time
210 duckpin mark. PageA-l(
Miscellany
City News in Brief. Page B-!
Service Orders. Page B-8
Vital Statistics. Page B-13
Nature’s Children. Page B-13
Christmas Adventure. Page B-13
Bedtime Story. Page B-lfi
Crossword Puzzle. Page B-16
Letter-Out. Page B-l«
Winning Contract. Page B-11
Uncle Ray’i Corner. Page B-17
J
Plan Studied
To Cut Deficit
To 2i Billion
Defense Cost Rise,
Cuts Elsewhere
Proposed
BACKGROUND—
The Federal debt has mounted
steadily since the Government
adopted pump-priming methods
in effort to offset effects of de
pression. Unless tax revenues
increase materially or spending
«.s drastically curtailed in next
fiscal year, this debt will go above
statutory limit of S4S.000.000.000.
Big defense program is expected
to hinder economy moves.
By the Associated Press.
A 1941 budget designed to cut the
Federal deficit for the year to around
$2,500,000,000 by offsetting higher de
fense costs with lower relief and
other expenditures and increased tax
revenues was authoritatively re
ported today to be under consider
ation at the White House.
Although official figures could not
be obtained—some of them have not
been decided yet—Stephen Early,
White House secretary, said sur
mises about a sharply reduced defi
cit were “'pretty close.”
Harold D. Smith, budget director,
also said "cuts are being made on
some items.”
Getting the deficit down to $2.
000.000.000 was said to be the desire
of some administration advisers, but
this figure was said reliably to be
too optimistic.
Estimates Presented.
Prom these hints, authorities de
duced the following rough estimates
of what President Roosevelt might
recommend in his annual budget
message to Congress in January for
the 1941 fiscal year, beginning next
July 1:
Expenditures—nearly $9,250,000,000
Receipts—abcyit $6,500,000,000.
Deficit—about $2,500,000,000.
The amount of next year's rev
enues constitutes, perhaps, the big
gest question mark in the Presi
dents budget-making. Officials say
that since business is much better,
tax revenues should be considerably
higher, but some of the officials in
charge of preparing revenues esti
mates have been extremely con
servative in their guesses of the
amount of gain.
Because no official estimates of
the current year's budget have been
made for about a year, comparison
of estimates for next year is diffi
cult.
Unexpected Items.
Last January, the President pre
dicted spending of about $9,000,000,
000, but the cost of neutrality en
forcement and other unexpected
items has increased this. At the
same time, changing business con
ditions have altered the revenue es
timates, which were expected last
January to result in a deficit of
about $3,300,000,000. so current
guesses of this year's deficit range
between $3,000,000,000 and $4,000,
000.000.
Even though next year’s spending
total may closely approximate this
year's, the purposes of spending are
slated to shift radically, informed
officials said.
While national defense expendi
tures are expected to increase from
about $1,500,000,000 to approximately
$2.000.000,000—split about evenly be
tween the Army and Navy—other
things are expected to be cut.
Because business is better and
more jobs are available—a $1,000,
000,000 figure is the goal for next
year's relief appropriation, com
pared with about $1,400,000,000 this
vp nr
Because farm prices are believed
by some-officials to be in better con
dition. some cuts are being agitated
on benefit payments and other agri
cultural expenses.
Works Cuts Planned.
Perhaps the sharpest cut may
come in public works. Here, reduc
tions are being planned on P. W. A,
Federal buildings, Federal roads,
dam construction and other public
works. Between these activities a
maximum of $500,000,000 might be
saved The only works spending
currently favored by persons close
to the White House is that needed
to finish projects already under way,
with nothing for new projects.
Chairman Harrison of the Senate
Finance Committee, which prepares
tax legislation for Senate considera
tion. discussed the revenue outlook
with reporters after lunching with
President Roosevelt yesterday.
The way collections from present
Federal taxes have been increasing
“gladdens our hearts,” the Missis
sippian said.
^ And about i940!\
Jdont make me lauch again,
CflOYS!HA-HA-flA k
'fr. sfSf'&v.
/is n’t H[
' A SCREAM
HA- HA-HA.
It Brings Down the House Every Time!
Recess Appointees’
Pay Is Tied Up by
Controller's Ruling
Brown Says President
Can Fill Andrews'
Wage-Hour Post
Bv J. A. FOX.
A recess appointment can be
made by President Roosevelt to fill
the office of wage-hour admini
strator vacated by Elmer F. An
drews on October 16. Controller
General Brown, held today in a
decision which, at the same time, j
apparently has the effect of definite
ly tying up the pay of all those
Federal employes subject to Senate
confirmation whose appointments
were not passed on at the special
session recently concluded.
The Controlier General said Mr.
Andrews’ resignation, though sub
mitted in the course of the special
session, would not be effective until
his leave expires November 30. and
for that reason, his successor, if
named before Congress again con
venes, wuold not be subject to pay
restrictions.
Congress Must Approve.
Under the law. when appoint
ments requiring confirmation are
made while Congress is in session,
they must be ratified at that ses
sion or the appointee goes off of the
pay roll. Correspondingly, when a
recess appointment is made, it must
be passed on at the next session, or
the appointee loses out.
IA.-JC L11C SCSMUII was
called only to handle neutrality
legislation and no nominations went
! forward, it had been thought that
the pay statute might not apply,
; but the Controller General’s deci
| sion, while not passing directly on
that point, by implication at ieast,
draws no distinction between special
and regular sessions so far as ap
pointments are concerned.
The question concerning the
Wage - Hour Administration was
| raised by Secretary of Labor Perkins.
She sought to clear up the pay status
of a possible successor to Mr. An
drews and to determine also how
long an acting appointee might!
serve. After explaining that the
pay ban would not apply. Mr. Brown j
said the acting successor could hold
office for 30 days from December 1.1
Applies Only to Jaeobs.
Harold D. Jacobs, assistant ad
ministrator, is the titular head of
the office at this time, but Lt. Col.
Philip B. Fleming, who is detailed
there as an adviser, actually is in
charge. The Controller General's
decision on the time element ap
plies only to Mr. Jacobs.
If the Controller General's ban
is as broad as it appears, it will
affect all appointments made since
the close of the last regular session
as well as those made during the
special session. It would affect
postmasterships, judicial posts, legal
positions and others.
When and if such appointees are
confirmed at the next session, they
are entitled to back pay. Special
legislation would be required to com
pensate those failing confirmation
for the time they had sreved.
Slovaks Get Polish Areas
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, Nov. 21.—Foreign Min
ister Joachin von Ribbentrop and
Matas Cernak, the Slovak Minister,
signed a treaty, today whereby Ger
many agreed to return to Slovakia
territory annexed by Poland in 1920,
1924 and 1938.
Naismith Improves
LAWRENCE, Kans.. Nov. 21. UP).—
Dr. James A. Naismith, inventor of
basket ball, who suffered a cerebral
hemorrhage Sunday, spent a rest
ful night and was considered out
of danger.
Aching Tooth Brings
Glass to Capital;
Finds It's False
By the Associated Press.
Senator Glass, Democrat, of
Virginia, had a toothache and
journeyed from his Lynehburg,
Va., home to have the tooth
pulled by a Washington dentist.
“I didn’t have to have it
drawn,” the 81-year-old Vir
ginian laughed today. “The
dentist looked at the tooth and
reminded me that it was a
false one.”
4
Less Than $2,000,000 Means
More Than Words Can Indicate
ED. NOTE: The following i
story was humbly submitted for I
publication by The Star reporter
assigned to write Community
Chest news. Only one thing
further need be said. The annual
Chest campaign is scheduled to
end tomorrow.
They told me they wanted
stories about people who are
helped by the Community Chest.
I was s< wise.
"Oh, tear-jerkers, huh?"
"No, facts—the simple truth.”
So I spent a day tramping
around with a visiting nurse. My
back ached and my legs felt
like they were collapsing under
me, but she had her heavy black
bag to carry and she didn't com
plain. So I kept quiet. I opened
a door and the knob came off
in my hand and rolled away
down the rotten planks that were
steps. That was the place where
a mother lay shivering under cot
ton blankets, holding her new
baby close, trying to warm it.
There was no wood for the stove.
And I spent a night with the
Travelers Aid worker at Union
Station I wa.s yaw'ning openly
by 4 a.m. and my eyes were
heavy. But X saw a frightened
little immigrant girl get off the
train. I saw her eves when the
worker spoke her name. She
had a friend
My heels sank in the soft earth
of a football field while I watched
boys of street-gang age wear
themselves out ir. joyous tackling.
1 played with some babies at a
foundling home. I listened to
the wandering reminiscences of
an aged man up from slavery. I
sat in the waiting room of a
case-work agency and talked
with a mother who was faint
from lack of food because her
children had to eat.
I didn’t try to write ‘‘sob stor
ies. ’ If anything. I wrote less
than the whole truth. No one
conic' be expected to believe that
any one person Dr one family
ccuid endure what I had seen
endured.
I thought:
’’If I could only make people
see one family, if I could only
make real that suffering, there
wouldn't be any question of how1
little a giver could get away with
giving—but how much.”
Then I rang doorbells with
a volunteer solicitor. Here were
homes with food on the table,
contented children studying their
homework, with sheets on the
beds and fuel in the furnaces.
Perhaps I expected too much.
Doors were slammed in my face.
Now the campaign has almost
run its course and “less than
$2,000,000" has been pledged. I
know what that "less than—”
means. Maybe that mother who
needs food for her children so
desperately will be turned away.
Maybe that infant will just stop
living because there's no wood
for the stove.
You get to thinking about that
“less than” and you can’t push
it out of your mind. You start
to go to a movie and you think.
“The price of this movie could
pay for a hospital visit or bread
or medicine.” You ask for a
pack of cigarettes and then you
remember that you're smoking
up the price of a bottle of milk.
I wish some of those people
who slammed doors had seen
what I saw. I wush I could have
made it real.
Air Safety Board
Head Resigns to
Direct Airport Work
Sumpter Smith Takes
Gravelly Point Post
At Roosevelt's Request
By J. RUSSEL YOUNG.
At the personal request of Presi
dent Roosevelt, Sumpter Smith has
resigned as chairman of the Air
Safety Board of the Civil Aero
nautics Authority to devote his full
time to supervising construction of
the new Washington National Air
port at Gravelly Point.
In announcing this today, the
White House made public Mr.
Smith's Air Safety Board resigna
tion and his acceptance of the air
port assignment as well as the Presi
dent's letter to Mr. Smtih.
President Roosevelt has been par
ticularly interested in a large, mod
ern airport for the National Capital
and had much to do with getting
congressional action and with the
selection of the Gravelly Point site.
In his letter to Mr. Smith, the
President made plain his interest
in the project. His letter said: “I
feel that this airport is of such
great importance, not only to Wash
ington, but also as a national ex
ample of what a modern airport
should be, that I am pleased to know
that you plan to devote your expe
rience and background in airport
construction full time*to Gravelly
Point.”
Hoping that this national airport
will be a model for the whole coun
try, the President has kept in close
contact with the project from the
beginning. He has frequently vis
ited the preliminary worir which has
been under way at Gravelly Point
and has gone over the plans per
sonally a number of times, and it
is because of this that he prevailed
upon Mr. Smith, who is an author
ity on such matters, to take over
supervision.
Four German Prisoners
Escape British Camp
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Nov. 21.—Four German
prisoners of war escaped today from
an internment camp in Scotland
Two were recaptured.
The escape was the second re
ported within four days. Three
other prisoners who fled from the
camp Saturday were recaptured yes
terday.
A
Chest Campaign
24% Short of Mark
With One Day to Go
$481,272 Is Needed to
Bring Drive Up to
$2,000,000 Goal
The current Community Chest
campaign was $481,272, or 24.07 per
cent short of its $2,000,000 quota
today, with the drive's deadline set
for 12.30 p.m. tomorrow.
Nine thousand volunteer solicitors
braved inclement weather in an
effort to reach the Chest goal by
tomorrow's ninth and concluding
report luncheon at the Willard
Hotel.
Urging the unstinted support of
every adult resident of the District,
Lawrence Williams, president of the
Washington Board of Trade, speak
ing at yesterday's session, asserted
that fullfilment of the Chest's pro
gram of care for human needs is
not only the humane and intelligent,
but also the economical thing to
do.
Tax bills will be smaller if we can
build character and prevent human
suffering in its early stages," he
said.
Chest Requests.
Mr. Williams pointed out that
while Washington has grown rapidly
in recent years there has been no
commensurate increase in the
amount of money requested for the
support of the Chest agencies . . .
"The Chest has taken cognizance of
this condition and is merely asking
for approximately the same amount
of money which was raised last
year,” he said.
Unfavorable weather conditions
should be a help rather than a
hindrance to the campaign, Thomas
P. Morgan, jr., chairman of the Ad
vance Gifts Unit contended, since
more prospective contributors will
remain at home and the colder
temperatures will serve to make resi
dents more mindful of winter suffer
ing that faces the city's less fortu
nate.
A total of $1,518,722.06 had been
pledged by 139,807 contributors up
to yesterday’s eighth and semi
final report meeting. This was
75.93 per cent of the quota.
Unit Leaders Meet.
Following the luncheon meeting,
unit leaders held a oouncil of war
to determine how the remaining
one-fourth of the goal could be
(See CHEST, Page A-3.)
A
War Increases
Cost of Milk,
Hearing Told
Feed%Prices Up 10%,
. Labor Needs Heavier,
Derrick Asserts
By BLAIR BOLLES,
Star Staff Correspondent.
FREDERICK. Md.. Nov. 21.—The
war in Europe has sent up the cost
of production of the milk Washing
tonians drink, B. B. Derrick, man
ager of the Maryland and Virginia
Milk Producers’ Association, told
Glen J. Gifford, representing the
United States Department of Agri
culture Department, before a hall
filled with the Maryland farmers
whose cows provide much of that
milk.
In arguing for an increase in the
price paid by the Washington dairies
to the farmers for the milk. Mr. Der
rick pointed out that since the war s
outbreak the cost of feed has gone
up 10 per cent. The importunities
of farm laborers for higher pay
have become more clamorous, and
the price ol tin from which tools
and equipment used in the milking
business are made, like pails and
cans, have increased.
Daniel J. Thomas of Frederick,
who markets the milk of 24 cows he
raises on a 230-acre farm, said his
costs have risen from 10 to 15 per
cent since September 1. As for
wages, it was brought out yesterdaj
at a similar milk hearing in Warren
ton. Va., that while farm labor pay
is 15 cents an hour, the W. P. A.
level is 25 cents an hour.
r urci asi t rice Moost.
Mr. Derrick and the farmerr
agreeing with him think a price in
crease for all the farmers supplying
the Washington market will come
from the proposed milk marketing
agreement and order which would
establish a Federal supervision of
the District market and institute a
scale of minimum prices for the
various classes of milk. He esti
mated increase of producers’ income
by 8 cents per hundredweight.
The agreement on which Mr. Gif
ford is holding three-day hearings
in behalf of the Secretary of Agri
culture was suggested by the asso
ciation which Mr. Derrick manages
It supplies more than 80 per cent ol
the milk shipped into the Washing
ton shed.
Hearings End Tomorrow.
The question of whether a retail
increase in the cost of milk in
Washington would follow the adop
tion of the proposed agreement and
order has not been debated at th»
j hearings so far. It is expected te
i be brought up at the last day oi
j the hearings in Washington tomor
; row.
I One aspect of the suggested order
is the establishment of a system of
supplying low price milk to relief
famines in Washington as well as
non-relief low income families. A
ijse in the retail price in Hyattsville,
Md.. was openly urged here today by
O. W. Anderson, who produces milk
for the Hyattsville market on a
farm near Rockville, Md.
The proposed agreement would
apply minimums to milk produced in
Maryland and sold in the Maryland
suburban area of Washington.
Hyattsville retail prices range now
from 9 to 13 cents a quart.
Plaintive Plea.
Yesterday's hearing was in War
renton, Va. The most plaintive plea
in behalf of the regulation—which
would be in the form of a milk
marketing agreement and an order
signed by Secretary Wallace—-came
from W. M. Kline, a farmer who
milks 26 cows on his place near
Manassas, Va. Mr. Kline observed
that his hired help have been asking
for more pay since the war began
(the hands now get 15 cents an
hour). Then he commented:
’’I’ve got two boys, one 9. the
other 11. They’re right young to
hitch up to the dairy business, but
they help out in the barn with the
i milking. I want them to get into
: the business. I like it and I want
| them to like it. So you can see I
I was right discouraged when the
youngest boy was milking the cow |
| across from mine the other night,
! and said. 'Dad, I'd rather be a truck
driver than a dairy farmer.’
"We ought to make the dairy in
dustry profitable enough so the boys
will be willing to stay down on the
iarm.
His Costs Are Up.
Mr. Kline said that under present
I circumstances he is just about hold
I ing his own. The argument of the
j farmers yesterday was that they
I took a cut in price in 1938 and
I-.
(See MILK Page A-3.)
--
Confessed Embezzler
Awaits Jury Action
Raymond L. Weber, 35. teller at
j the Morris Plan Bank was awaitng
grand jury acton today on a charge
of emblezzlng $1,500. after pleading
j guilty late yesterday when arraigned
j before United States Commissioner
Needham C. Turnage.
The Justice Department an
nounced that Weber confessed
stealing the money August 31 while
occupying the cage of another teller
at the bank. He had been employed
there only since last March, but the
department said he had worked in
various other Washington banks for
13 years.
The Government announcement
pointedly referred to “the prover
bial ‘13’ jinx” claiming “another
victim.” In addition to Weber'*
years of District banking connec
tions, the $1,500 he confessed steal
ing included 13 $100 bills, the de
partment pointed out.
Weber surrendered to special
agents of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, it was announced,
after, he confessed taking the money.
The other teller was absent from
the bank when the $1,500 was stolen.
None of the money has been re
covered, authorities said.
Weber is married and ha* two
children.
ft